NSTC-2, May 5, 1994

I. Introduction

The United States operates civil and military polar-orbiting environmental
satellite systems which collect, process, and distribute remotely-sensed
meteorological, oceanographic, and space environmental data. The
Department of Commerce is responsible for the Polar-orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite (POES) program and the Department of Defense
is responsible for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
(DMSP). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
through its Earth Observing System (EOS-PM) development efforts,
provides new remote sensing and spacecraft technologies that could
potentially improve the capabilities of the operational system.
While the civil and military missions of POES and DMSP remain
unchanged, establishing a single, converged, operational system
can reduce duplication of efforts in meeting common requirements
while satisfying the unique requirements of the civil and national
security communities. A converged system can accommodate international
cooperation, including the open distribution of environmental
data.

II. Objectives and Principles

The United States will seek to reduce the cost of acquiring and
operating polar-orbiting environmental satellite systems, which
continuing to satisfy U.S. operational requirements for data from
these systems. The Department of Commerce and the Department of
Defense will integrate their programs into a single, converged,
national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system.
Additional savings may be achieved by incorporating appropriate
aspects of NASA's Earth Observing System.

The converged program shall be conducted in accordance with the
following principles:

- Operational environmental data from polar-orbiting satellites
are important to the achievement of U.S. economic, national security,
scientific, and foreign policy goals.

- Assured access to operational environmental data will be provided
to meet civil and national security requirements and international
obligations.

- The United States will ensure its ability to selectively deny
critical environmental data to an adversary during crisis or war
yet ensure the use of such data by U.S. and Allied military forces.
Such data will be made available to other users when it no longer
has military utility.

- The implementing actions will be accommodated within the overall
resource and policy guidance of the President.

III. Implementing Actions

a. Interagency Coordination

1. Integrated Program Office (IPO)

The Departments of Commerce and Defense and NASA will create an
Integrated Program Office (IPO) for the national polar-orbiting
operational environmental satellite system no later than October
1, 1994. The IPO will be responsible for the management, planning,
development, fabrication, and operations of the converged system.
The IPO will be under the direction of a System Program Director
(SPD) who will report to a triagency Executive Committee via the
Department of Commerce's Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.

2. Executive Committee (EXCOM)

The Departments of Commerce and Defense and NASA will form a convergence
EXCOM at the Under Secretary level. The members of the EXCOM will
ensure that both civil and national security requirements are
satisfied in the converged program, will coordinate program plans,
budgets, and policies, and will ensure that agency funding commitments
are equitable and sustained. The three member agencies of the
EXCOM will develop a process for identifying, validating, and
documenting observational and system requirements for the national
polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system. Approved
operational requirements will define the converged system baseline
which the IPO will use to develop agency budgets for research
and development, system acquisitions, and operations.

b. Agency Responsibilities

1. Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce, through NOAA, will have lead agency
responsibility to the EXCOM for the converged system. NOAA will
have lead agency responsibility to support the IPO for satellite
operations. NOAA will nominate the System Program Director who
will be approved by the EXCOM. NOAA will also have the lead responsibility
for interfacing with national and international civil user communities,
consistent with national security and foreign policy requirements.

2. Department of Defense

The Department of Defense will have lead agency responsibility
to support the IPO in major system acquisitions necessary to the
national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system.
DOD will nominate the Principal Deputy System Program Director
who will be approved by the System Program Director.

3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA will have lead agency responsibility to support the IPO in
facilitating the development and insertion of new cost effective
technologies that enhance the ability of the converged system
to meet its operational requirements.

c. International Cooperation

Plans for and implementation of a national polar-orbiting operational
environmental satellite system will be based on U.S. civil and
national security requirements. Consistent with this, the United
States will seek to implement the converged system in a manner
that encourages cooperation with foreign governments and international
organizations. This cooperation will be conducted in support of
these requirements in coordination with the Department of State
and other interested agencies.

d. Budget Coordination

Budgetary planning estimates, developed by the IPO and approved
by the EXCOM, will serve as the basis for agency annual budget
requests to the President. The IPO planning process will be consistent
with agencies' internal budget formulation.

IV. Implementing Documents

a. The "Implementation Plan for a Converged Polar-orbiting
Environmental Satellite System" provides greater definition
to the guidelines contained within this policy directive for creating
and conducting the converged program.

b. By October 1, 1994, the Departments of Commerce and Defense
and NASA will conclude a triagency memorandum of agreement which
will formalize the details of the agencies' integrated working
relationship, as defined by this directive, specifying each agency's
responsibilities and commitments to the converged system.

V. Reporting Requirements

a. By November 1, 1994, the Department of Commerce, the Department
of Defense, and NASA will submit an integrated report to the National
Science and Technology Council on the implementation status of
the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite
system.

b. For the fiscal year 1996 budget process, the Departments of
Commerce and Defense and NASA will submit agency budget requests
based on the converged system, in accordance with the milestones
established in the Implementation Plan.

c. For fiscal year 1997 and beyond, the IPO will provide, prior
to the submission of each fiscal year's budget, an annual report
to the National Science and Technology Council on the status of
the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite
system.